Suspects in Sorsogon Ambush Charged

CAMP OLA, LEGAZPI CITY (11 December) - SEVEN SUSPECTED MEMBERS of the communist New People's Army's "Celso  Minguez Command" operating in Sorsogon province have been charged with Multiple Murder and Frustrated Murder.

Reportedly identified by the PNP Intelligence through witnesses, the suspects were charged together with some 14 other unidentified members of the communist movement in Sorsogon.

The Public Information Office of the PNP Regional Office-5 in this camp, revealed last December 10 that those charged before the Provincial Prosecutor's Office in Sorsogon City were: Andres  Hubilla, Boboy Pumarfia, Felix Marcaida, Recto Colimlim, Crispolo Alindogan, Joy Ladim, and Brenda Viernes.

The Multiple Murder and Frustrated Murder cases were docketed under criminal case numbers V-13-INV-09L-0532 and V-13-INV-09L-0533.

The murder cases filed were the legal action of the PNP on the ambush perpetrated by communist rebels against the members of the 509^th Police Provincial Mobile Group of the PPO Sorsogon, in Barangay Calomagon, Bulan, Sorsogon last November 9, 2009.

In the said ambush, the insurgents had detonated a landmine which exploded near the PNP Toyota Hi-Lux vehicle transporting personnel of the Mobile Group.

The casualties of the explosion were identified as Police Insp. Jerson DC De Leon; SPO1 Johnson Gerola; PO2 Darwin Detoito; and PO1 Ryan Padrique, all members of the 509^th Police Provincial Mobile Group.

The ambush also resulted to the wounding of four other police personnel and one unidentified rebel who was reported caught in the mine explosion.

The PNP intelligence section of the PPO in Sorsogon province is currently in pursuit of the above suspects who remain at large after disbanding subsequent to the ambush.

Camp Ola sources have reported that said suspects are "cooling-off" in adjacent provinces of Sorsogon. (SONNY SALES)